I understand that riding a motorino (scooter) isn’t for everyone.  But as a New York Times online article recently noted “Urban America is Catching the Scooter Craze”. And my friend and dedicated passenger, Fara, can attest to how great it really is.

But for those of you who still aren’t convinced I have another Motorino option that is sure to please.

Located at 349 East 12th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, Motorino is a new Neapolitan style pizzeria (in the former Una Pizza Napoletana space).

I like pizza on occasion but it isn’t something I eat regularly, until tasting Motorino’s brussels sprout pizza with smoked pancetta, garlic and pecorino cheese.  Yum!  It also doesn’t hurt that it has a great name.

But what I really like about Motorino, is their small menu starting with the oven roasted brocollini seasoned with garlic, chili and pecorino cheese, followed by one of the seven pie choices (one size only) as the smoked scamorzza (a smoked Italian cow’s-milk cheese) pie flavored with squash, pancetta and sage and finishing with the every-bite-is-delicious tiramisu or the surprising, yet perfect, chocolate and vanilla twist soft serve.

The restuarant is small and doesn’t take reservations, so at night be prepared to wait outside on the sidewalk for a table.  And for those of you sensitive to noise, the decibel level can creep up in the evening, with the sound of local New Yorkers bouncing off the clean white tiled walls and marble table tops.

Fara (who also doubles as my eating and photography assistant) and I prefer the, I’m currently job searching, $12 lunch special (a fresh mixed green salad and selected pizza or selected pizza with the soft serve flavor of the day).  Otherwise pies cost between $9 and $16, antipasti between $3 and $14 and with a nice selection of wines, this could be one of your more moderate dinner-out choices in the city.

So if you are not ready to get on a motorino, get yourself over to Motorino to at least experience some delicious Neapolitan style pizza.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Leslie

Motorino 349 E 12th Street  Tel (212) 777-2644

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